NATO appoints Michael P. O’Leary as President and CEO

The National Association of Theater Owners announced Thursday that it has appointed Michael P. O’Leary as the association’s president and CEO, effective May 1. He succeeds outgoing NATO chief John Fithian, who announced in October that he would retire from exhibitor retail. org for three decades.

“On behalf of the NATO Executive Board, we are very pleased to appoint Michael O’Leary as NATO Leader following the retirement of current President and CEO John Fithian effective May 1,” said Rolando Rodriguez, Chairman and Senior Advisor to the NATO Executive Board said. , Marcus Corporation. “Michael will officially join the NATO team on April 10 to work with John and the team on a successful transition.

He added, “Michael brings extensive knowledge and strategic leadership skills, having worked with and managed teams across the broader entertainment industry, both domestically and internationally. Michael has held senior positions at The Entertainment Software Association, 21st Century Fox, the Motion Picture Association, Capitol Hill and the Department of Justice. With the help and support of our highly talented NATO team, as well as our friends in the film companies, the artistic community and legislators, we will continue to grow the film industry under Michael’s leadership.”

O’Leary lives in Washington, DC. He received his law degree from the University of Arizona and is a graduate of Arizona State University.

O’Leary said: “The cinema experience is an enduring and dynamic part of the entertainment landscape in communities everywhere. I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with the leaders of this legendary global industry and NATO’s talented and dedicated team to help shape the next chapter.”

The public presentation will take place at this year’s NATO CinemaCon in Las Vegas (April 24-27), where Fithian will greet the industry and O’Leary will say hello. O’Leary will also join the Executive Committee of the Global Cinema Federation.

NATO has been essential to the cinemas’ survival during their Covid closures and has worked with the US government to secure adequate financial bailouts and savings loans for its members of cinema owners who sell more than 67,000 screens across the US and the world to count. NATO also played an important role in the reopening of cinemas across the country and was fully involved in creating safe cinema conditions as audiences returned.

Rodriguez continued, “Also on behalf of the NATO Executive Board, we would like to thank John Fithian for his great contributions to the exhibition industry. His leadership, commitment, dedication, achievements and passion will be long remembered when he retires on May 1. Thank you John for a great legacy. And welcome, Michael, to our NATO family.”